North Korea will discuss denuclearization, United States official says

Ahead of potential talks between the United States and North Korea, the US has confirmed for the first time that North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un is willing to discuss the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula, according to an administration official.

According to CNN, the talks between the USA and North Korea's intelligence officials are aimed at laying the ground for a meeting between Central Intelligence Agency Director Mike Pompeo, who awaits Congressional confirmation for his appointment as a secretary of state, and the head of the North's Reconnaissance General Bureau, whose identity has not been confirmed.

President Trump agreed to talks after a message from tyrant Kim was delivered to Washington by a South Korean envoy saying the North Korean leader was prepared to talk about denuclearisation and would freeze missile tests during talks.

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Since then, the North Korean leader has reaffirmed his commitment to discussing denuclearization as well as his willingness to hold summit talks with the South Korean and US presidents. The meeting, only the third summit between the Koreas since the end of the 1950-53 Korean war, could prove to be significant in the global diplomatic push to resolve the stand-off over North Korea's nuclear programme.

No date has been set for the meeting.

As recently as this weekend, Trump told associates he was looking forward to the summit, which he agreed to on the spot when presented the invitation from Kim. The North has yet to officially confirm such intent or Kim's interest in meeting Trump.

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The U.S. State Department has been communicating with the North Koreans through their mission at the United Nations, CNN also said. USA officials are apparently shooting for late May or possibly June.

The US-North Korea talks will take place after a historic summit between North and South Korea.

The meeting on Saturday (April 7) at the North Korean side of the border village of Panmunjom was attended by three working-level officials from the South and their three to four counterparts from the North, according to Seoul officials. Last month, a New York Times report said that the Central Intelligence Agency was taking the lead in preparing for the Trump-Kim summit.

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